Stalemate In Negotiatons
Story By
Alison Kentish

who represent public service workers to meet with their membership and allow those workers to decide the next move. Wage negotiations began about one month ago. The President says Government is deliberately prolonging the talks – hoping that with time, the Unions will relent. Monrose says this situation will not continue much longer.

The TUF President did not disclose Government’s offer – but our investigations reveal that the last offer was thirteen percent and the unions are asking for eighteen percent. The TUF had started negotiations at twenty-four percent. Monrose says Government moved swiftly on negotiations regarding working conditions but the issue of salaries appears to be one on which it intends to stall.

The new Board of the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation was established by the late Sir John Compton after his United Workers Party swept the general elections in 2006. However, the Court ruled that the imposition of the Board was illegal. But the Foundation says this Board, although comprising the same members appointed by the late Prime Minister, is different. The SDRF Board has also decided not to comment on the challenge following its meeting Wednesday, indicating that the Attorney General’s Office and not the Development Foundation was sued.

Sources indicate that the agencies prescribed to appoint members to the Board did so in March last year in accordance with the articles of association. That Board then amended the articles to bring in four additional members not appointed by the agencies. According to the original Articles of Association the Planning Minister, and the Chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourist Board, the National Trust and the Soufriere Town Council would each appoint one person to the Board.

In addition, the Board would have three nominees from the Soufriere Development Programme and one from the governing bodies of the Mothers’ and Father’s groups in the administrative quarter of Soufriere. However, with the amendment, the Finance Minister was given the authority to appoint all ten Directors. The SRDF Board says it gained legitimacy after the late Prime Minister’s appointment letter of February 6, 2008 was corrected and the new Board appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association.

The MP for Soufriere – Harold Dalson said this week the Board should adhere to the court decision declaring it illegal or face contempt charges. Wednesday’s emergency meeting was to discuss the replacement of SRDF Chief Executive Officer – Darnell Bobb. Bobb was fired from the Foundation last Wednesday. Sources close to the Foundation indicate there was an issue of trust related to the CEO regarding confidential documents leaked to the Soufriere MP.

We have learnt that the SRDF Board is looking to restructure the organization but is uncertain about what management structure will be implemented. The Board is considering a proposal from a human resource consultant to determine the new management structure, which it is hoping to finalise next week.

A minivan carrying vacation bible school children slammed into a utility pole Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle was headed to Castries from the Morne. It is not clear what caused the driver to veer off the road and crash into the utility pole. Emergency officials had difficulty extricating the driver from the vehicle – the impact of the crash pinning his foot beneath the pedals. Some witnesses described what they saw and heard.

One man on the scene claimed to know the origin of the van. He says the children were from a small church in the Castries area. There are reports that the young children were part of a vacation bible school trip. Initial reports suggest that no one on the minivan sustained life-threatening injuries.

Vieux Fort Collision
Three people were transported to St. Jude hospital today following a collision near Vieux Fort. Details of the wreck are still sketchy, but emergency officials are saying that two males and a female were involved in the collision. The female is said to be in critical condition, but the nature of her injuries was not released. She was being prepared to undergo surgery.

The two males are said to be in stable condition, but their injuries, too, was not reported. Reports indicate that the car traveling north overturned on the Vieux Fort highway near Palmiste injuring the three occupants. It occurred around 9:45 Wednesday morning.

Ten years after the last Forestry Management Plan, the government has secured funding to record the biodiversity of the island. The two-point-five million dollar project is funded by the European Union through the Banana Industry Trust. Deputy Chief Forestry Officer – Michael Bobb says the project will conduct a detailed inventory and demarcate the forest boundaries. He says there has been a lot of deterioration of forest in the past years as a result of various natural and man-made disasters.

Tuesday, the Forestry Department held a consultation with environmental partners to discuss the project. The Banana Industry Trust is managing the EU grant on behalf of the government. The Forestry Officer says there have inventories in the past, but none so expansive. A Finnish company won the contract to undertake the project expected to last eighteen months. At the end, there will be a training component for forestry personnel.
The Forestry Department says it will involve other partners because the project is too large to handle on its own.

giving them the run-around. According to the workers, they have not received payments since May. A Labour Official was trying to mediate in the circumstance. Andrew Quashie held a meeting with the management to discuss the matter of payments. According to the Labour official, the Financial Comptroller of the company said he would prepare severance and notice and pass on those documents to the Department for verification. But Quashie says he has no control over their departure. Duncan James just wants to get paid for the hours he’s put in. But Cadette says they have been taken too many times in the past, in this situation must stop.

exercise. The National Emergency Management Organisation will also participate. Pierre says all partners will be on board to ensure preparedness in the event a major hurricane hits St. Lucia. The Disaster Coordinator says the St. Lucia Red Cross is more prepared than ever to handle a major disaster this year. Pierre says the Society has a stock of medical and food supplies and a team of trained young volunteers ready to embrace humanitarian work if disaster strikes. Close to fifty volunteers will participate in this weekend’s simulation exercise. The Hurricane Season began officially in June. Pierre says the exercise will be beneficial for overall disaster preparedness and hopes to see more similar events, particularly between islands.

Many business operators see the need to develop disaster plans for their organizations. However, most of them do not. That’s why NEMO is continuing to press for business continuity plans. Karen Tobiere of the Bay Gardens Beach Resort the programme was important in helping participants put disaster plans together. With Tourism being the largest economic earner for the island, NEMO is trying to ensure the sector will survive after a disaster. NEMO’s Corporate Planning Officer – Andrew George says the sector must look at multi-hazard contingency planning.

Part of the training involves exposing participants to the various experiences and the lessons learnt from those. NEMO has worked on business continuity programmes with the hotel sector for the past three years. George says hotel officials have always responded positively.

The Taiwanese contribution to the Ministry of Health’s Pharmaceutical supplies covers the speciality areas of the foreign medial team visiting St. Lucia. These areas include gynaecology, paediatrics and Chinese medicine. Taiwanese Ambassador Tom Chou says in addition to this donation, the doctors will conduct free medical consultations and screenings for locals – volunteering their time and expertise. The donation of medicine comes on the heels of the opening of the Taiwanese funded gynaecological ward at the

Victoria Hospital. Health Minister Dr. Ketih Mondesir says the Taiwanese continue to contribute to the Island’s Health Sector. The Ministry of Health provides free medication to certain classes and age groups. Health Officials say Wednesday’s donation will contribute to that program. The Taiwanese medical team will remain on Island for two weeks.

Five bills will be presented when the house of representatives meets on Tuesday. Bills will be presented by Prime Minister – Stephenson King who has responsibility for finance, international financial services, economic affairs, economic planning, national development and external affairs. Public service, human resource, social transformation, youth and sports minister – Lenard Montoute will also present papers, as will the minister for communications, works, transport and public utilities – Guy Joseph.

The bills down for consideration are the civil code amendment, the finance administration amendment, the poverty reduction fund amendment, the water and sewage amendment and the police amendment.
Tuesday’s sitting is scheduled for a 10:00am start.

and thirty. OAS Representative for St. Lucia – Paul Spencer - says the goal is to develop employment opportunities for the youth To help ensure successful, sustainable programs, POETA partners with existing non-profit organizations that already serve at-risk youth. Already, the NSDC provides skills and academic training for unemployed youth. The Centre’s Supervisor – Barry Paul says the participants will be taught skills most needed by employers.

The training will incorporate Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential curriculum. That programme provides internationally recognized certification and provides eight step-by-step courses in computer literacy, information literacy, and productivity applications. Upon completion of the course, the NSDC will assist participants with job placement in the public and private sectors.

Jozel Cooper’s essay was titled – What can parents do to help their children do well at school. For her efforts, Jozel will receive all her textbooks for form one free of cost. Jozel will attend the Choiseul Secondary School.
The second place winner – Credelcia Paul will also get all her textbooks free for her first year at the Babonneau Secondary School. She wrote on the topic – What are your goals and how are you going to achieve them. The competition was open to all Primary Schools around the island.